Customer Reviews

Panasonic TC-P46C2 46-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My wife and I were really planning on buying a 42" 1080p Samsung "LED TV" (i.e., an LED backlit LCD TV) when we came across this TV on sale for roughly 60% the price of the Samsung 42" LED TV. So I spent the best part of an evening researching LED versus Plasma, 1080p versus 720p and also the Samsung brand versus Panasonic. Details of my findings are in the Appendix at the bottom of this review.

With the required research behind me, we concluded that we couldn't go wrong with either choice. The Panasonic won because not only would it would save us a bundle, but we would also get a 46" TV instead of a 42", which would be perfect for our living room HD cable setup. We decided, therefore, to postpone our purchase of a 42" 1080p LED TV for our bedroom to the near future when the prices for LED TVs would drop even further.

Although the C2 series is the most basic of Panasonic's 720P Plasma lineup, the build quality is very nice and refined. It took less than 30 minutes to set up the TV and connect it to our HD cable box and digital receiver.

The only initial calibration we made was to set the picture mode to "Cinema". Quite honestly, we were stunned at the quality picture when we first tuned to a HD channel - which was an English detective drama on PBS. The color reproduction, clarity, and fine details were way above our expectations, easily on par with the best LED TVs we saw in the showroom . With its 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, this TV is able to produce an awesome level of gradual black levels, with no dithering artifacts to speak of.

This TV has a moving picture resolution of 720p. We watched the Hawaii Five-O remake premiere with disbelief. With its 600Hz refresh rate, there were very smooth image transitions in the action sequences, making for a very film like experience with none of the "digititis" with fast moving images that I was used to seeing on some LCD TVs.

Being the most basic in the current Panasonic Plasma lineup, this TV has a basic set of features - which is actually a good thing because the menu system uncomplicated and intuitive. Some of the menu features can be accessed through dedicated buttons on the remote. For example there is a button to toggle between aspect ratios - which is handy when you need to watch old non-anamorphic DVDs.

This TV also has "anti-image retention" features to prevent logos from being seared onto the surface of the Plasma display. For the first 100 hours or so, it is a good idea to watch 4:3 aspect ratio programs in "zoom" mode, to prevent retention of the black bars on the side, and to switch channels frequently to prevent "logo burn" from particular channels. Once the TV has crossed the "break in" period, you can resume normal watching.

I have not tried Blu-Ray yet on this TV, but it does a pretty decent of upscaling DVD movies from 480p to 720p through component video, though not perfect. But playing DVDs through upscaling DVD players, like the Panasonic DMR-EZ48VP-K 1080p Upconverting VHS DVD Recorder with Built In Tuner, through HDMI is another story. From a normal viewing distance of 8 to 10 feet, DVD movies look almost like HD. I watched the DVD of the movie Downfall and it was hard to convince me that I was not watching full HD.

The sound quality on this TV is pretty good and more than adequate for most program content.

As for hum, it's present only when I stick my head right next to the back panel where a very low volume buzz can be heard. But from more than a few feet away this TV produces no audible hum!

Cons:
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I can think only of a couple of downsides to this TV. The first is that the C2 model has no anti-reflective coating like the higher models in Panasonic's Plasma lineup. But, to be quite honest, the reflections were not noticeable or bothersome until we turned on some bright lights in the side in the direct line of reflection. Having said that, the front plate glass in all Plasmas are reflective and it is therefore best to set them up in an environment where you have control over light sources.

The second issue is that this TV has only a single digital optical audio output, which limits you to using a digital receiver for external sound.

Conclusion:
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This TV represents the best bang for buck for any TV out there. Although this is an entry-level Panasonic plasma, Panasonic has not skimped on build quality and the thing that absolutely matters most - picture quality! This TV packs the latest display technology of Panasonic, at a fraction of the price you would have paid just a couple of years ago. Sure, it does not have ethernet or in-built streaming video. But if your really want streaming Netflix or iTunes movies, why not spend just an additional $99 and buy an Apple TV - MC572LL/A NEWEST MODEL?

This TV is definitely in the "best buy" category and I have no hesitation in giving it a rating of five stars. Thank you, Panasonic!

Appendix:
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LED versus Plasma:
Both LED and Plasma TV's have excellent picture quality, colors and black levels as well a rated lifespan of 50,000 to 100,000 hours. LED TVs are thinner, lighter, "greener" in power consumption, have less reflective screen surfaces, can be viewed in bright daylight conditions and do not require a "break in" period for the first 100 hours of use. Plasma TVs, on the other hand, have excellent color accuracy and refresh rates that are hard to match, and they support wide viewing angles. Plasma TVs now come with 600Hz refresh rates, while most LED TVs still are in the 120Hz level. That, in itself is worth the price of admission for videophiles and video enthusiasts, given that the higher refresh rates have the effect of making the viewing experience pleasing, more film-like and easier on the eyes.

1080p versus 720p:
1080p versus 720p is not much of an issue if most of your viewing is HD broadcast, satellite or cable, which is pretty much 720p for the most part. But if you are serious about Blu-Ray, then 1080p is preferable since the difference becomes noticeable for larger TVs and at close viewing distances. But in most situations it is hard for people to tell the difference between the two formats even with a 46" panel.

Samsung's reputation versus Panasonic's:
Recent TV ratings from Consumer Reports indicate that Samsung has top ratings in the LED TV technology. But Panasonic Vieras still occupy the top spot in Plasma! (Samsung Plasma TVs are reputed to have an annoying audible hum or buzz from the rear of the panel, which the Panasonic Plasmas do not have).

Update: 02 October 2010:
I made changes to the white balance for the Cinema/Warm picture mode using settings described in AVS Forum, based on reference settings from member "D-Nice". The picture now is really natural and awesome. I had to get into the Service Menu for this. Please see the link in the Comments section of this review for more details.

I'm not an expert, but I am an enthusiast, who loves watching tv and movies, and I continue to be blown away by Panasonic, this is my 3rd Panasonic hd set and I love it, for the price points of Panasonic plasmas, versus the competition, there is just no contest. I can see a lot of improvements on this set compared to my 5 year old 37inch plasma, the blacks are extremely dark and colors true and bright, and color adjusting is more sensitive, the set is very intuitive to its source and self adjusts format for each channel, 3:2 pull down adjusts to 24fps sources, pixel orbiter to prevent image retention, the just setting is improved for a more true less stretched picture, picture is very smooth and fluid,no dead pixels, no ghosting,fast action is great with the 600hz refresh rate, the tuner is improved for more free hd channels, the sound also improved with 2 10 watt speakers. I do have some nit picks though, the surface of the screen being large picks up alot of reflection from any light source and it is difficult to watch with out the windows covered and lights off, the remote is not universal, and I'm not a great fan of vera link because all of my components are not Panasonic, this set also has a CATS feature that adjusts the set to the lighting conditions of the room, while I appreciate the thought, this feature hinders viewing and you will want to set it to off on all your picture modes for optimal viewing, no vga, only 2 hdmi ports, speakers, although sound is good, are on the bottom of the set facing down in to the table. I can live with all of this though, it's a high quality BIG plasma set with an outstanding picture I will enjoy for years to come that I got for an incredibly low price.

First off, don't get sucked into the difference between 1080P and 720P. The difference is so negligible, you have to be right next to the set to be able to see it. Even then, most cable boxes don't even broadcast at 1080P anyway so you only get 720P on most 1080P sets.

I was in the market for a plasma over LCD for a couple big reasons: First, the price is better. Second, the picture quality on a plasma is significantly better, especially when viewing from an angle. Plus, it's less strain on the eyes. You have deeper blacks, crisper images, better sound quality (in general with plasmas compared to LCD's). Now on to this particular set. I've had it for about a month, and after a few minor adjustments, I honestly think this TV is better quality than my sister's Samsung LCD 1080P TV. Be sure to turn the CATS feature off (in the default mode it's on). This is a feature that adjusts the screen to the ambient light in the room. While it sounds good, the screen is simply too dim with CATS on. 2nd, the contrast looks best at 58 (over the default mode of 50).

The sound is good also after a few minor tweaks. Over all, for $499, there is no better deal for a plasma TV in the market. Plus, it's a Panasonic, the leader in plasma TV's, and probably among the best brand TV's in general over the past twenty years. If you are looking to spend around $500, I'd strongly recommend the Panasonic TC-P46C2!

I am not what you would call an early adopter of new technology, I wait for the market to settle down and for the bugs to be worked out of the products. So this is my first big TV and I love it. No more squinting across the room trying to make out what the DVD menu says and the quality even from a DVD player is so much better than what I've had before. I can't wait to get it set up for Blu-Ray, guess I'd better get the old wallet out again.

I was sceptical about buying a 720p rather than a 1080p resolution TV, but after reading some reviews and comments on the two technologies, I went into a couple of stores and found unless my nose was nearly on the glass, I couldn't tell the difference.

Only downside is that the price of this TV has come down slightly from what I paid a couple of weeks ago! If, like me, you've held off buying a big TV - wait no longer.

After using a 42" 1080p Samsung LCD television ($2000 when I bought it) for the past couple of years, I was prepared to get what I payed for in this 720p 46" Plasma ($499). After hooking it up and tweaking the settings I have to say - WOW. This 720p plasma looks just as good as the 1080p LCD and even better during fast motion scenes. I did have to buy an optical audio to RCA converter box ($40) to get surround to my theater system, but I knew that I would have to when I bought it. Don't fret to much about whether to buy this or not - I was worth every penny.

We're really happy with this TV. Great value. I agonized over whether to get the U2 or S2 models over this entry level C2 model. The picture is fantastic and it looks great on our living room. The built in sound is pretty bad but I think that's to be expected. Good input options, menus are fairly coherent, and remote isn't as bad as other TVs.

One hint - if you check this out in a bright showroom, it looks really awful compared to the LCD TVs. You have to view it in a dimly lit room to get a real feel for how it looks. In general, the LCDs looked much better in the bright showroom, but in the showroom's fake living room the plasmas dominated.

I'm 25 and have been using my 27" tube TV I got for Christmas when I was 16. I finally caved and decided it was time for an upgrade. The whole plasma vs LCD stuff made the decision to buy a HDTV that much more intimidating. Then there's the 720p vs 1080p. Oh yeah, and now there's LED and 3D HDTVs. However, after doing a lot of research, a few things became clear...

ON PLASMA VS LCD:
Prices on plasmas are MUCH better than LCDs. I want a big TV. I'd rather have a 46" plasma than a 40" LCD.
Drawbacks on plasmas don't seem that bad. I don't have windows surrounding my TV so I didn't care about glare. Everyone is scared of burn-in, but I'm not going to pause a videogame and leave my TV on while I'm at work.

ON BRANDS:
If you buy plasma, Panasonic is the only way to go.

ON 720 VS 1080p:
Unless you have very high standards for picture quality and money isn't an issue, a good 720p is awesome. At hh gregg, they had this 46" Panasonic right next to the 1080p version. I'll admit, the colors were more brilliant and the picture was slightly better on the 1080p. The 720p was $499 and the 1080p was $905. Nearly double the price for brighter colors? No thank you.
When I'm at home, I don't have a 1080p right next to this TV to remind me how my colors aren't quite 1080p. Great way to sell the more expensive model in the store, but only a TV salesman could blindly walk into my place and know my TV is 720p. And considering how I was used to a 27" JVC tube, this is an upgrade in every way.

BOTTOM LINE:
For the price and quality, this is it. I am in love with this TV and I don't even have anything HD plugged into it yet. Standard cable and component DVD cables alone, this plasma beats the hell out of my old tube.

Price conscious buyers should look no further. When you go into a BB or Sears or hh gregg, it's easy to spend more than you originally planned. The 720p is next to the 1080p which is next to the LCD which is nearby the LED right beside the 3D TV playing Avatar. It's a slippery slope, indeed. You want a big TV? You want a TV that is of high quality that is worlds better than a standard TV? Buy this.

Nice TV, gorgeous picture. Not a top of the line plasma, but a big upgrade at a decent price if you haven't had plasma before. When setting it up, make sure to upgrade the picture settings from "normal" to get the intense colors you see in stores. I like the TV and the sound seems fine but I was completely unimpressed with the white glove delivery service and am glad I was not charged extra for it. The delivery guys were in a hurry and wanted to just carry the box into the house and leave. When my husband pointed out that they were supposed to be providing a higher level of service, they reluctantly took the TV out of the box and plugged it in but had to be talked into lifting it off the floor and onto a table -- they refused to lift it onto the mantle and did no setup apart from turning it on.

This TV is easily the best value for your money right now if you are in the market for a 46"plasma. The picture quality is great. The only downside for me is the sound quality.Even at max volume it is not sufficient for enjoying a movie. Also, the sound is thin. So be prepared to shell out some extra bucks if you do not already have speaker systems/HT to supplement the sound. But overall great picture quality, colour and easy remote menu options.

I'm cheap and had a budget of $500 when shopping for a flat screen. My thought was to replace my 43" Hitachi HD widescreen rear projection when it died but it will not die and continues with good HD picture quality. I ended up moving it to another room.

Got the Panasonic on sale for $499, the store had 2 left. Could not pass up the deal after researching this one. Like the other reviewers, don't get sidelined on 720 vs 1080. The store had a 1080 and a 720 side by side the difference is negligible.

Set up for the big Panasonic was a breeze and the picture is awesome. No complaints at all, would highly recommend it. The SD card slot is a nice feature. Go buy this one.